FAQs
- Can Metal Mates be welded through?
- Can Metal Mates help reduce the scoring on my difficult parts?
- Can Metal Mates be used on stainless steel?
- Is Metal Mates compatible with powder coat and e-coat?
- Does Metal Mates have any corporate approvals?
- Is there a Metal Mates lubricant for high strength steel?
- Is there one Metal Mates product that can be used on all types of parts?
- Do Metal Mates products have rust inhibitors?
- Does Metal Mates offer any technical service or support?
- How do I read a refractometer?
- How important is it to use RI or DI water when mixing lubricant?
- Can Metal Mates be welded through?
Yes, Metal Mates products are very weld friendly. Most weld engineers specify our products because they don’t cause carbonization, porosity, and they reported reduced smoke by 80% in comparison to their other lubes. Other advantages of welding through Metal Mates products are extended weld tip life, better weld start up and improved penetration. Heavy gauge steel can be processed and welded with elimination of the wash step.
- Can Metal Mates help reduce the scoring on my difficult parts?
Yes, products developed by Metal Mates have extreme pressure additives and anti-wear additives to protect tools and reduce scoring on parts. Polishing agents keep the dies conditioned and do not allow metal fines to collect in dies which cause parts to score. Allowing a better metal flow through tight radius and draw beads yields a quality gauged part.
- Can Metal Mates be used on stainless steel?
Yes, Metal Mates products have all tested successfully on various types of stainless steel. The products have all proven themselves at stamping facilities that manufacture exhaust systems and other stainless steel components.
- Is Metal Mates compatible with powder coat and e-coat?
Yes, all Metal Mates products are designed with secondary processes in mind; that includes pre-treatment for paint compatibility. Even our heaviest duty lubricants have been tested and proved to clean with standard alkaline cleaners at a very low percent with excellent e-coat ratings. The temperature of the wash bath also can be run at a lower temperature as many of the products are water-based and very easy to clean.
- Does Metal Mates have any corporate approvals?
Yes. Metal Mates has accumulated several approvals over the years with Ford, GM, PPG, Honda, Nissan, Tecumseh, Mitsubishi, Mercedes, Tower Automotive and Hayes Lemmerz. There are currently several other case studies underway by major automotive manufacturers to achieve cost savings programs and approvals. Please contact your Metal Mates Regional Sales Manager for more information.
- Is there a Metal Mates lubricant for high strength steel?
Yes, Metal Mates has two new products that have been specifically formulated for high strength steel stamping and forming, VS-HSS and HDP-HSS. These products were developed in collaboration with automotive stampers to address the cracking and high scoring associated with high strength steel processing.
- Is there one Metal Mates product that can be used on all types of parts?
Yes, Metal Mates products can be diluted at different ratios with water to match a wide range of applications. Consult with a Metal Mate’s professional to pick the best product to cover your applications.
- Do Metal Mates products have rust inhibitors?
Yes, All Metal Mate products leave a light rust preventive film on part surfaces. The life expectancies of rust inhibitors in water diluted die lubricants can be affected by storage and transportation conditions. Storage containers that trap moisture will reduce service life. High humidity conditions and rapid temperature changes can cause water to condense on parts also reducing service life.
- Does Metal Mates offer any technical service or support?
Yes, Metal Mates offers a full range of technical support and service. Including free initial process evaluations, on-site monitoring, product management, education and training for personnel, custom equipment design, application engineering and laboratory testing.
- How do I read a refractometer?
Step 1: Place 1 to 2 drops of cutting lubricant, onto the prism glass and close the plate cover.
Step 2: Look through the eyepiece and view the scale. The top portion of the scale appears blue and the bottom part appears white. Take your reading at the intersection of these two colors.
It is important to note that each lubricant has its own unique concentration readings. One lubricant may have a refractometer reading of 9.2°Bx at 33% concentration (3:1) while another coolant may read 3.3°Bx at the same concentration. Soluble oils typically have the highest refractometer scales and synthetics typically have the lowest.
- How important is it to use RI or DI water when mixing lubricant?
Chemicals in water can negatively affect the performance of the lubricants. Metal Mates can test your water to determine any affects on lubricants.
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Testimonials
"I love Metal Mates (VS and HDP). We run some really tough HSS (high strength steel) parts and they use to get really hot in the die. But not with Metal Mates, it keeps the parts and the die cool."
ITW ROCOL North America
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